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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Salem

85 replies

Rickandmortified100 · 15/01/2023 00:57

I met a little Salem yesterday and was surprised by how much it suited her and what a lovely name it seemed. If someone had posted on MN about the name I’d probably have been a bit pessimistic about the name due to the witch trials, but weirdly I really liked it. A quick Google shows me that it’s both a Hebrew and Arabic name meaning ‘peaceful, safe, complete, perfect’, and also a biblical name referring to Jerusalem. What do you think?

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Original poster
Rickandmortified100 · 18/01/2023 23:35

It is a very beautiful sounding word! Be it for human or cat 😁

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PurpleFlower1983 · 18/01/2023 23:24

The name of my gorgeous black cat who I loved so very dearly. I would never criticise the name!

Longdarkcloud · 18/01/2023 20:16

There’s a tv series currently available called Salem about an alternative future in the US where witches run the army. Quite violent.

Hobbesmanc · 18/01/2023 07:15

Krakenes · 15/01/2023 01:17

Won’t suit some people, but from where I am from this is a lovely name. And it’s not uncommon in the area I live in London. I know 3 little ones called this.

I'm interested in names but have never come across this one as a given first name. Stats show nine children given it.

WordtoYoMumma · 18/01/2023 06:59

Yeh it's Sabrina's cat

Penguinsaregreat · 18/01/2023 06:58

All I think of is Salems Lot. I’d also assume male.
Its a no from me.

mathanxiety · 18/01/2023 03:57

Just to question the assertion that the Salem witch trials had nothing to do with Britain -

  • America was a British colony at the time, so very much British, and the perpetrators and victims were of British ancestry, informed by an understanding of religion that was born in Britain.

  • Witches were burned at the stake in Britain too, and in tbe rest of Europe.

RiverSkater · 18/01/2023 01:24

@Rickandmortified100 you need the David Soul version. I've not seen the remake!

SeaweedGarters · 16/01/2023 11:43

I suppose it's an object lesson in why some placenames are either comparatively neutral or have so many cultural associations that they are broadly accepted as names (Paris, Florence, Georgia, Brooklyn etc) and those that have such specific negative associations that they're considered unusable. Salem falls under the latter for me -- it would be like giving your child the name of a famous battle location, like Gallpoli or Ypres, which are obviously just placenames, too, but with strong associations with wartime slaughter. And while these are, to an extent, culturally-mandated, there are no guarantees your child will remain within his or her original culture/language.

Original poster
Rickandmortified100 · 16/01/2023 10:31

RiverSkater · 16/01/2023 10:27

Salem's Lot.

Most terrifying programme ever.

The only good thing about this thread which I’m seriously regretting posting is that I’ve now heard of Salems Lot, which seems like something i would love 😁

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RiverSkater · 16/01/2023 10:27

Salem's Lot.

Most terrifying programme ever.

Original poster
Rickandmortified100 · 16/01/2023 10:24

Trethew · 16/01/2023 10:20

There is a lovely little town in on the banks of the river Allen in central Scotland. It’s where Andy Murray went to school. It’s called Dunblane. Would you name a child after that?

I’m not planning to name my child Salem. Did you read the thread? 😂

Guys this isn’t my kid. I heard the name through a friend and was vaguely interested in what Mumsnet thought. Why is everyone getting so arsey and acting like I personally came up with the name and am devastated that people don’t like it? I posted purely out of curiosity as I was surprised to heard the name and even more surprised that it suited the kid. I honestly couldn’t care less whether you love it or hate it! Was just wondering what others thought.

How does MN make even a baby names board bitchy? 😂😂😂

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Figrolls14 · 16/01/2023 10:23

Please do not call your child Salem. Maybe you have not looked into the associations much?

Trethew · 16/01/2023 10:20

There is a lovely little town in on the banks of the river Allen in central Scotland. It’s where Andy Murray went to school. It’s called Dunblane. Would you name a child after that?

Original poster
Rickandmortified100 · 16/01/2023 10:14

Zonder · 16/01/2023 10:03

Not clear at all, given that there are so many posts about the Salem witch trials on here, some referring to the Crucible and some independent of that. It's not limited to the American play.

Anyway most people don't agree with you about the name.
HTH.

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Hahahaha. I was obviously referring to the comment quoted 😂😂😂

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Original poster
Rickandmortified100 · 16/01/2023 10:14

For example, Peppa Pig is very popular here but its

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Mama_bear · 16/01/2023 10:06

I know one, but he pronounces it Sa-lem not Say-lem as in the witch trials, if that makes sense.

Zonder · 16/01/2023 10:05

When you say place names are translated I'm guessing you mean a new name is given? Since you can't actually translate most place names as they don't have a direct meaning. Would be interesting to know what language you're talking about but I don't suppose you will tell us.

Zonder · 16/01/2023 10:03

Rickandmortified100 · 16/01/2023 10:01

😂😂😂 No, I’m clearly referring to the question in the comment that I quoted asking whether the parents had read the Crucible 😂😂😂

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Not clear at all, given that there are so many posts about the Salem witch trials on here, some referring to the Crucible and some independent of that. It's not limited to the American play.

Anyway most people don't agree with you about the name.
HTH.

Original poster
Rickandmortified100 · 16/01/2023 10:03

Zonder · 16/01/2023 07:21

Just to add, the Crucible is a very famous story / play and has been translated into other languages, including ones that don't use the Latin alphabet. And I'm sure you know that important place names from a country are often kept as they are in translation, especially since as you pointed out it's a Hebrew word to start with so it's been kept in English.

No, in our language both place and people names are not the same in the language. They are always translated. Translations are often not even direct.

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Original poster
Rickandmortified100 · 16/01/2023 10:01

Zonder · 16/01/2023 07:19

You've come onto an English language website asking what people think about a name. People respond with answers about English language connections and you say you have no idea and the people concerned don't speak English or use the Latin alphabet anyway so the replies are irrelevant.

What was your point? Were you just hoping for a round of responses all saying yes, we agree with you?

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😂😂😂 No, I’m clearly referring to the question in the comment that I quoted asking whether the parents had read the Crucible 😂😂😂

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Greenfairydust · 16/01/2023 08:13

Nope.

Great name for a cat, dog, horse but not for a child.

It will always be associated with witchcraft in a negative way.

Outfor150 · 16/01/2023 07:40

Rickandmortified100 · 16/01/2023 04:54

😂😂😂 the parents aren’t Puritans. Are there even Puritans around these days?? I don’t think people have described themselves as Puritans since like the 18th century 😂

I feel I should defend the family in specifying that 1) we aren’t in the UK 2) English isn’t their first language and they’re not from and English speaking country 3) They’re Christians and chose the name as it’s a biblical word used to refer to the city of Jerusalem. I can’t even say with any certainty that they’ve even heard of the witch trials, and can say with certainty that they haven’t heard of the movie.

I suppose asking this question on a British thread was a mistake as the witch trial association is too strong.

Calm down everyone. I’m not considering using it, I just thought it sounded interesting (viewing it from the religious perspective and not the witch trials perspective obviously 😂)

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The Salem witch trials are famous/infamous around the world, no matter the country you live in. They have nothing to do with Britain. They took place in America. They are made even more famous and have more cultural resonance because of the famous play The Crucible by the American writer Arthur Miller.

TheaBrandt · 16/01/2023 07:24

Well I did it for gcse it’s a classic text in England and presumably America too.

Zonder · 16/01/2023 07:21

Just to add, the Crucible is a very famous story / play and has been translated into other languages, including ones that don't use the Latin alphabet. And I'm sure you know that important place names from a country are often kept as they are in translation, especially since as you pointed out it's a Hebrew word to start with so it's been kept in English.